BEAVERTON -- Police Chief David Bishop, who has been open about his desire to retire, said Tuesday he'll leave the city's top policing job July 1.

The decision gives Mayor Rob Drake -- facing at least two election opponents in May -- plenty of time to appoint a successor, although both Bishop and Drake said that had nothing to do with the timing.

"There just comes a time when you realize there are other things you want to do," said Bishop, 71. "I'm watching a lot of people I hired retire."

With no clear successor in the department, Drake said he will look outside for a new chief.

"People like Dave don't come along every day," Drake said. "His shoes will be difficult to fill. But I do believe this is a good place to be."

Bishop began his career as a police officer with Beaverton in 1962. After working up through the ranks, he went to Newberg as police chief in 1984. In 1993, he returned to Beaverton when Drake hired him back as chief.

Bishop said Tuesday he wanted to retire last July but stuck around to work on a victim's assistance pilot program organized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police that includes the Beaverton Police Department.

"He certainly deserves it," said Donald Walton, a member of the chief's advisory board. "He has done an incredible job while he's been chief. Our police department has received some of the highest awards you can receive."

Most recently, Beaverton was named the safest city among mid- and large-size cities in the northwest -- and No. 47th nationally -- by Morgan Quitno Press, a publisher of city rankings.

While an investigator, Bishop gained fame in the 1980s from his involvement with the case of the Randall Woodfield, who was the subject of Ann Rule's book, "The I-5 Killer." But Bishop said the highlight of his career was returning to Beaverton, bringing community policing to the forefront and "hiring outstanding young men and women."

After retiring, Bishop said, he will likely volunteer on projects that interest him and continue to serve on a number of boards. Perhaps he'll even continue visiting the Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe, where he now regularly holds meetings.

But he is truly retiring from the policing profession, he said.

"I've had a great ride," he said. "It's been a love, a passion. I wouldn't change a thing."